Fordham University has begun a national search to hire a new dean of its Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Academic Affairs has announced.

The University has established a search committee of 12 faculty, administrative and student representatives, to be chaired by Peter Vaughan, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Social Service.

“The new [arts and sciences]dean will play a critical role in the continued momentum and progress of Fordham in achieving the goals of Toward 2016,” said Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., senior vice president for academic affairs/chief academic officer. “The University is committed to finding an outstanding leader to serve in this position.”

Freedman thanked Robert Himmelberg, Ph.D., professor of history, who will conclude his term as interim dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. In his nearly five decades at Fordham, Himmelberg has served as chair of the history department, member and president of the faculty senate, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and as interim dean of the Faculty of Business and the Graduate School of Business Administration.

The committee members include:

Dominic Balestra, Ph.D., professor of philosophy;
Fordham College at Rose Hill senior Matthew Cardinale, president of Rose Hill’s United Student Government;
John Cecero, S.J., associate professor of psychology;
Fordham College at Lincoln Center junior David de la Fuente, president of Lincoln Center’s United Student Government;
Elizabeth Johnson, C.S.J., Distinguished Professor of Theology;
Eve Keller, Ph.D., associate professor of English;
Damian Lyons, Ph.D., associate professor of computer and information sciences;
Anne Mannion, Ph.D., associate professor of history;
Clara Rodriguez, Ph.D., professor of sociology and anthropology;
David Stuhr, Ph.D., associate vice president for academic affairs;
James VanOosting, Ph.D., professor of communication and media studies;
Grace Vernon, Ph.D., professor of biology and president of the Faculty Senate.

The University has hired the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer, of Oak Brook, Ill., which has extensive experience with academic searches.

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Janet Sassi is editor/associate director of internal communications. She can be reached at (212) 636-7577 or fallersassi@fordham.edu